Apr 08 2009
Malaysians Shopping Tips & Tricks: Part II
As promised, this is the second phase of my 2-part of Malaysian-style offline shopping tips and tricks. Another 3 tips as follows:
- Start at top level
Most superstores will have 2 levels: (1) upper level for clothes, equipment, pots and pans, CDs, books, kids stuff, boxes, furniture (for some outlets) and other non-perishable items, and (2) lower level (or ground level) for food and groceries items, toiletries, cosmetics etc. Always start your shopping trip on the upper level. Pick everything that you want and go down to lower level from groceries shopping. The reason being they always put Customer Service center (where you can gift wrap and get your parking ticket validated here) at the lower level. So, you will save a trip of going back and forth on the escalator just to get you gift wrapped and your parking ticket validated (otherwise, you may have to pay for it).
- Choose your counter wisely
So, you are done with your shopping spree and it is time to pay. Choose your counter wisely. Even though you have less than 10 items on your basket, do not go to the nearest so-called Express Counter if you see people lining up at that counter. Instead choose counter with less people waiting in line and wait for your turn. It happens all the time. The Express Counter usually the longest line during lunch time, everyone thinking that they get express checkout when it is actually longer to wait compared to the normal line. Sometimes they put in new cashier on the Express Checkout because less items to be checked out, less mistakes but new cashier usually slower that the experienced one.
- Don’t forget your parking ticket
Lastly, after you have paid, go straight to the Customer Service counter (which is right outside the checkout machine) and get your parking ticket validated (for outlet that provide discounted parking fees, otherwise you can skip this part). If you forget to bring along the ticket, feel free to come back later to validate or just forget the discounted fees.
Okay, I think that will be enough tips and tricks for shopping at Malaysian supermarkets. By the way, these info are generic in nature, it does not point specifically to any superstores in the country.
I’ll write something for online shopping trend in this region, tomorrow. So, cheerios everyone!
